North Carolina establishes its rules and regulations for individuals employed in the state in Chapter 95 of the NC General Statutes, titled Department of Labor and Labor Regulations. Most North Carolinians will work their entire careers without giving much thought to workplace rights and regulations outside of their employers’ orientation classes. Unfortunately, some people get hurt…
If someone were to mention workers’ compensation fraud to you, what would be your first guess at who is generally responsible? Is it employees? That’s what a lot of people wrongly think. According to a poll conducted on Claims Journal’s website, employee fraud was cited as the number one kind of workers’ compensation fraud. But…
The North Carolina Industrial Commission recently released a report auditing the state’s Workers’ Compensation Program. The report evaluates the degree of compliance of businesses with the North Carolina Workers’ Compensation Act and how well compliance is being enforced. All companies in North Carolina, with the exception of a few exemptions laid out in the Worker’s Compensation…
I am often asked the question, “If you had to do it all over again, would you roll the dice and endure the mental torture and financial strain that law school demands?” Each time I answer with a resounding “YES.” The reason I went to law school was because I absolutely love helping people solve…
In a show of support for workers and law-abiding businesses, the North Carolina House passed a bill that would prevent businesses from classifying workers as independent contractors when in fact they are employees. This misclassification cheats workers from being covered by workers’ compensation laws and allows the cheating businesses to avoid paying withholding taxes. In…
Raleigh In early 2014, North Carolina Labor Commissioner Cherie Berry had some good news to share: Workplace deaths dropped significantly, with only 23 people having died in accidents on the job in the past year. It was the smallest annual toll since Berry took office in 2001. That count, though, captured only a sliver of…
The budget conference committee was just appointed, so we finally have an opportunity to let our voices be heard about Section 15.1.6(b) of the budget bill. This provision would dramatically change the terms of Deputy Commissioners who hear workers’ compensation cases at the Industrial Commission. The Senate budget provides for four year terms for deputy…
On March 25, 1911, fire spread through the Triangle Shirtwaist Company garment factory in lower Manhattan. Many of the workers were young women. They had little time or opportunity to escape. The fire spread quickly and killed 146 workers. The only fire escape collapsed during the rescue effort. The haphazard design of the workplace trapped…
